DOCSLIB.ORG

Mu...A a . U R Na Uw Vm Mg Uu .A. Amway

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Mu...A a . U R Na Uw Vm Mg Uu .A. Amway (:3: p 21...“... H I}! 9‘... u 313.. t . 10— mu... A DA .2. t .W. h: A {. A .Iyfimunmwmma . an #fidflw . A A¢M>.m..ruw.fl: e r; ,uw - . u r A 8 Ir.‘ n. nauwvmmguu -“ .A. Amway: umm .9! .3; —K: A Q A ‘ L.» A v mfi _. ,A 1 . » :A. T. 615.. ._.wa 4-“ mt... mew,“ .. THESIS: A 2(1) 3 ~ LIBRARY 5/7/3982sz Michigan F‘tate University This is to certify that the thesis entitled AFRICAN FISH EAGLES (Haliaeetus vocifer) and MARABOU STORKS (Leptoptilos crumeniferus) IN UGANDA: USE AS BIOMONITORS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION presented by Simon Ralph Hollamby has been accepted towards fulfillment of the requirements for MASTER OF SCIENCE degree inEAIHQBIQLQGY AND DIAGNOSTIC INVESTIGATION ‘Lm, W11 6n K. Rumbeiha Major professor Date 04/25/03 0-7639 MS U is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Institution PLACE IN RETURN Box to remove this checkout from your record. To AVOID FINES return on or before date due. MAY BE RECALLED with earlier due date if requested. DATE DUE DATE DUE DATE DUE A0821? 70 5 2&1? 6/01 c:/CiRC/DatoDue.pes.p.15 AFRICAN FISH EAGLES (Haliaeetus vocifer) and MARABOU STORKS (Leptoptilos crumemferus) IN UGANDA: USE AS BIOMONITORS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION By Simon Ralph Hollamby A THESIS Submitted to Michigan State University In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation 2003 ABSTRACT AFRICAN FISH EAGLES (Huiiaeetzls vocifer) and MARABOU STORKS (Leptoptilos crumem'ferus) IN UGANDA: USE AS BIOMONITORS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION By Simon Ralph Hollamby A study was designed to evaluate concentrations of persistent organic pollutants and mercury in African fish eagles (Haliaeetus vocifer), marabou storks (Leptoptilos crumeniferus) and tilapia fish (Oreochromis niloticus). in Uganda. Total mercury concentration in breast feathers; plasma concentrations of a range of persistent organic pollutants; packed cell volume and plasma chemistry values were determined for adult and nestling African fish eagles at Lake Mburo (n = 18) and Lake Victoria near Entebbe (n =15), as well as marabou stork nestlings in Kampala (n = 21). Morphometric measurements were collected on adult fish eagles. A human and eagle food, Oreochromis niloticus were sampled for total body mercury and a range of persistent organic pollutants (n = 18). Feather mercury concentrations were significantly (p s 0.05) lower in fish eagles at Lake Mburo than fish eagles from Entebbe and marabou storks from Kampala. Five adult fish eagles and five Oreochromis niloticus from Entebbe had concentrations of 4,4'-DDE of less than 0.005 ppm wet weight in plasma and fish samples. The research establishes concentrations of these pollutants in these species and allows future trend analysis. African fish eagles and marabou storks meet many criteria of a suitable avian biomonitor of environmental pollution. With appropriate development, long-term research and integration with other monitoring initiatives, these species could become valuable tools to assess environmental change. Cepyright by SIMON RALPH HOLLAMBY 2003 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank Wilson Rumbeiha, the major professor and committee chair for his help and advice throughout the time of this project. I was Wilson’s first graduate student and I think we both learned greatly from the experience. Gratitude goes to my committee members and two residency mentors, Jim Sikarskie and Scott Fitzgerald. Jim was always there with advice and support, especially in regard to the human issues relating to wildlife research. Scott’s straight shooting approach allows students to know exactly where they stand and this student appreciated that. John Kaneene, my final committee member, greatly facilitated the statistical analysis for this project and helped with advice as the senior member on my committee. Thank you. A very special thanks goes to the field workers on this research. In every way, I would not have been able to achieve anything without them. Josephine Afema filled every role possible between and during the field periods: veterinarian, interpreter, counsel, cook, guide, banker, humorist, psychologist and social worker. The title “graduate assistant” does not do her efforts justice. Perhaps this will. Thank you friend. To Rae Gandolf for providing personality, physical and mental strength to this research. Thanks for sharing your abundant talents. Gretchen Yurk gave me the great pleasure of watching a good student become a great veterinarian during my time on this research. Thanks Gretchen. Amanda Norris showed me how lucky I am to do what I do but also reminded me of the world beyond wildlife. Thanks for the help Amanda. Ken Cameron iv worked tirelessly for 5 weeks, often at considerable personal risk and with no compensation, to achieve the objectives of this research. His work ethic and lateral thinking were the difference between success and failure. Thanks Ken. Samuel Waigo yet again proved he is one of the most reliable people I have worked with. His mechanical, field skills and work ethic were greatly appreciated. Thanks Sam. The number of people who assisted with this project either in the USA or Uganda are too numerous to adequately acknowledge so my apologies if I have inadvertently omitted someone. Christine Dranzoa, provided the link with Makerere University and was also a good source of support throughout this project. Thanks to Terryl Grubb, Karl Strause, Al Parker and Jerry Brandenburg who all assisted in training field personnel in tree climbing methods. Martin Okott and Malcolm Wilson both assisted in the field and provided sound ornithological advice. Bill Bowerman provided much of the framework on which the methods used in this research were based, in addition to providing field training on bald eagles. John Stuht did all the examinations for blood parasites, with the assistance of Paul Friederich, at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Rose Lake Pathology Laboratory. Thanks also to the toxicology, endocrinology and clinical pathology laboratory staff at the Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, Michigan State University Veterinary Medical Center in particular, Rae Nachreiner for thyroid analysis. Kirk Stuart and Zhiqiang Yang performed the toxicological analyses. Denise Harrison and Sherrie Lenneman helped simplify the mysteries of university administration for me. Sherrie was a source of valuable advice and humor during my time on this project. Thanks to the Uganda Wildlife Authority, especially Charles Tumwesigye and Joseph Okori; the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology. especially Julius Ecuru and Fred Nghania; and the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre. Thanks to British Airways, who provided subsidized airfares through the British Airways Assisting Conservation Program and especially Maxine Kibble, who has responsibility for this program. I sincerely thank the Morris Animal Foundation, who sponsored the project on which this work is based (grant number DOIZO-78). Finally, the biggest thanks of all goes to my parents, who have always been there for me no matter where the road has led. One could ask for better. vi PREFACE The chapters in this thesis are organized as independent pieces of work some of which are intended to be published in the scientific literature. As such, there may be some redundancy between chapters, especially in relation to the reporting materials and methods. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES xi LIST OF FIGURES xiii ABBREVIATIONS xiv CHAPTER 1: Project Summary, LiteratureReview, Hypothesis and Research Objectives. Project Summary Literature Review Mercury and avian species Persistent organic pollutants and avian species African fish eagle biology Marabou stork biology Pesticide usage in Uganda Hypothesis Research Objectives References CHAPTER 2: Methods and Equipment Used to Sample African 23 Fish Eagle Adults and Nestlings (Haliaeetus vocifer) and Marabou Stork N estlings (Leptoptilos crumeniferus) in Uganda. Abstract 24 Introduction 25 Materials and Methods 26 Adult eagle capture 26 Marabou Stork and African Fish Eagle Nestling Capture 29 Results 30 Discussion 32 References 35 CHAPTER 3: PCV, Biochemical Values, Hematazoon Parasites and 39 Morphometric Measurements for African Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) Nestlings and Adults at Two Sites in Uganda. Abstract 40 Introduction 41 Materials and Methods 42 Results 48 Discussion 50 References 54 viii CHAPTER 4: PCV, Biochemical Values and Survey for Hematozoon Parasites in N estling Marabou Storks (Leptoptilos crumeniferus) in Uganda. Abstract 71 Introduction 71 Materials and Methods 72 Results 77 Discussion 78 References 81 CHAPTER 5: Persistent Organic Pollutant and Mercury Concentrations in 89 African Fish Eagles (Haliaeetus vocifer), Marabou Storks (Leptoptr’los crumeniferus) and Tilapia (Oreochramis niloticus in Uganda Abstract 90 Introduction 91 Materials and Methods 95 Results 101 Discussion 103 Mercury 103 Persistent Organic Pollutants 109 References 114 CHAPTER 6: Nest Habitat Characterization of African Fish Eagles (Haliaeetus vocifer) from three sites in Uganda 128 Abstract 129 Introduction 129 Materials and Methods 130 Results 132 Discussion 134 References 137 CHAPTER 7: Assessing the potential of African Fish Eagles (Haliaeetus vocifer) and Marabou storks (Leptoptilos crumemfems) as biomonitors of environmental change. 140 Abstract 141 Introduction 141 Materials and Methods 143 Results 147 Discussion 148 Fish eagle biology and biomonitoring 148 Fish eagle diet and biomonitoring 149 ix Fish eagle reproduction
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Bontebok Birds
    Birds recorded in the Bontebok National Park 8 Little Grebe 446 European Roller 55 White-breasted Cormorant 451 African Hoopoe 58 Reed Cormorant 465 Acacia Pied Barbet 60 African Darter 469 Red-fronted Tinkerbird * 62 Grey Heron 474 Greater Honeyguide 63 Black-headed Heron 476 Lesser Honeyguide 65 Purple Heron 480 Ground Woodpecker 66 Great Egret 486 Cardinal Woodpecker 68 Yellow-billed Egret 488 Olive Woodpecker 71 Cattle Egret 494 Rufous-naped Lark * 81 Hamerkop 495 Cape Clapper Lark 83 White Stork n/a Agulhas Longbilled Lark 84 Black Stork 502 Karoo Lark 91 African Sacred Ibis 504 Red Lark * 94 Hadeda Ibis 506 Spike-heeled Lark 95 African Spoonbill 507 Red-capped Lark 102 Egyptian Goose 512 Thick-billed Lark 103 South African Shelduck 518 Barn Swallow 104 Yellow-billed Duck 520 White-throated Swallow 105 African Black Duck 523 Pearl-breasted Swallow 106 Cape Teal 526 Greater Striped Swallow 108 Red-billed Teal 529 Rock Martin 112 Cape Shoveler 530 Common House-Martin 113 Southern Pochard 533 Brown-throated Martin 116 Spur-winged Goose 534 Banded Martin 118 Secretarybird 536 Black Sawwing 122 Cape Vulture 541 Fork-tailed Drongo 126 Black (Yellow-billed) Kite 547 Cape Crow 127 Black-shouldered Kite 548 Pied Crow 131 Verreauxs' Eagle 550 White-necked Raven 136 Booted Eagle 551 Grey Tit 140 Martial Eagle 557 Cape Penduline-Tit 148 African Fish-Eagle 566 Cape Bulbul 149 Steppe Buzzard 572 Sombre Greenbul 152 Jackal Buzzard 577 Olive Thrush 155 Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk 582 Sentinel Rock-Thrush 158 Black Sparrowhawk 587 Capped Wheatear
    [Show full text]
  • Cfreptiles & Amphibians
    WWW.IRCF.ORG/REPTILESANDAMPHIBIANSJOURNALTABLE OF CONTENTS IRCF REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS IRCF REPTILES • VOL15, &NO AMPHIBIANS 4 • DEC 2008 189 • 23(1):51–61 • APR 2016 IRCF REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS CONSERVATION AND NATURAL HISTORY TABLE OF CONTENTS TRAVELOGUE FEATURE ARTICLES . Chasing Bullsnakes (Pituophis catenifer sayi) in Wisconsin: TexasOn the Road to Understanding Tech the Ecology and University Conservation of the Midwest’s Giant Serpent Students ...................... Joshua M. Kapfer 190 . The Shared History of Treeboas (Corallus grenadensis) and Humans on Grenada: A Hypothetical Excursion ............................................................................................................................Robert W. Henderson 198 RESEARCH ARTICLESTake On Zimbabwe . The Texas Horned Lizard in Central and Western Texas ....................... Emily Henry, Jason Brewer, Krista Mougey, and Gad Perry 204 . The Knight Anole (Anolis equestrisKaitlin) in Florida Danis, Ashley Hogan, and Kirsten Smith .............................................Texas BrianTech J. University, Camposano, KennethLubbock, L. Krysko, Texas Kevin 79409 M. Enge,([email protected]) Ellen M. Donlan, and Michael Granatosky 212 CONSERVATION ALERT n the night of. Wednesday,World’s Mammals in 14Crisis May ............................................................................................................................................................. 2014, 27 Texas three-week journey across South Africa 220 and Zimbabwe began Tech students tossed. More
    [Show full text]
  • Preliminary Studies on the Effect of Organochlorine Pesticides on Birds in Tanzania
    IIIIIIIIIIII XA9743728 PRELIMINARY STUDIES ON THE EFFECT OF ORGANOCHLORINE PESTICIDES ON BIRDS IN TANZANIA A.S.M. UANI, J.M. KATONDO, J.M. MALULU Tropical Pesticides Research Institute, Arusha, Tanzania Abstract Preliminary studies to investigate the effects of organochlorine pesticides on birds was conducted in Lower Moshi, NAFCO West Kilimanjaro, Arusha seed farm. Tropical Pesticides Research Institute (TPRI) farms, Manyara ranch and areas around Lake Victoria as well as in the TPRI laboratory in Tanzania. Large quantities of the pesticides particularly DDT, endosulfan, dieldrin, lindane and toxaphene are still being applied against pests of cotton, coffee, maize, beans and other crops as well as disease vectors in the country. Several groups of birds including waterbirds, African Fish Eagles, Marabou storks, Oxpecker, ducks, etc. were found feeding, roosting and swimming in the water and exposed to other substances that were contaminated with organochlorine pesticides and were presumably at risk. Analytical results from the tissues of the African Fish Eagles collected from Lake Victoria areas showed that the kidneys were contaminated with p,p3- DDE and o,p3- DDE at levels of 0.4 ng g ' and 1.45 ng g'1 respectively. These organochlorine insecticides as well as P-HCH were also present in the brain and liver tissues. The levels of the organochlorine residues were well below the lethal and sublethal levels for bird raptors reported in the literature. 1. INTRODUCTION Organochlorine pesticides, including DDT, dieldrin, endosulfan, lindane and toxaphene, are still being used to control agricultural pests and vectors of human and animal diseases in developing countries in the tropical and subtropical regions.
    [Show full text]
  • Dietary Breadth and Foraging Habitats of the White- Bellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus Leucogaster) on West Australian Islands and Coastal Sites
    Dietary breadth and foraging habitats of the White- bellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) on West Australian islands and coastal sites. Presented to the Faculty of the Department of Environmental Science Murdoch University By Shannon Clohessy Bachelor of Science (Biological Sciences and Marine and Freshwater Management) Graduate Diploma of Science (Environmental Management) 2014 1 Declaration I declare that this thesis is a synthesis of my own research and has not been submitted as part of a tertiary qualification at any other institution. ……………………………………….. Shannon Clohessy 2014 2 Abstract This study looks at dietary preference of the Haliaeetus leucogaster in the Houtman Abrolhos and on coastal and near shore islands between Shark Bay and Jurien Bay. Prey species were identified through pellet dissection, which were collected from nests and feeding butcheries, along with prey remains and reference photographs. Data extracted from this process was compared against known prey types for this species. Potential foraging distances were calculated based on congeneric species data and feeding habits and used to calculate foraging habitat in the study sites and expected prey lists to compare against observed finds. Results were compared against similar studies on Haliaeetus leucogaster based in other parts of Australia. 3 Contents Figure list .................................................................................................................................. 6 Tables list ................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Common Birds of Namibia and Botswana 1 Josh Engel
    Common Birds of Namibia and Botswana 1 Josh Engel Photos: Josh Engel, [[email protected]] Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History and Tropical Birding Tours [www.tropicalbirding.com] Produced by: Tyana Wachter, R. Foster and J. Philipp, with the support of Connie Keller and the Mellon Foundation. © Science and Education, The Field Museum, Chicago, IL 60605 USA. [[email protected]] [fieldguides.fieldmuseum.org/guides] Rapid Color Guide #584 version 1 01/2015 1 Struthio camelus 2 Pelecanus onocrotalus 3 Phalacocorax capensis 4 Microcarbo coronatus STRUTHIONIDAE PELECANIDAE PHALACROCORACIDAE PHALACROCORACIDAE Ostrich Great white pelican Cape cormorant Crowned cormorant 5 Anhinga rufa 6 Ardea cinerea 7 Ardea goliath 8 Ardea pupurea ANIHINGIDAE ARDEIDAE ARDEIDAE ARDEIDAE African darter Grey heron Goliath heron Purple heron 9 Butorides striata 10 Scopus umbretta 11 Mycteria ibis 12 Leptoptilos crumentiferus ARDEIDAE SCOPIDAE CICONIIDAE CICONIIDAE Striated heron Hamerkop (nest) Yellow-billed stork Marabou stork 13 Bostrychia hagedash 14 Phoenicopterus roseus & P. minor 15 Phoenicopterus minor 16 Aviceda cuculoides THRESKIORNITHIDAE PHOENICOPTERIDAE PHOENICOPTERIDAE ACCIPITRIDAE Hadada ibis Greater and Lesser Flamingos Lesser Flamingo African cuckoo hawk Common Birds of Namibia and Botswana 2 Josh Engel Photos: Josh Engel, [[email protected]] Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History and Tropical Birding Tours [www.tropicalbirding.com] Produced by: Tyana Wachter, R. Foster and J. Philipp,
    [Show full text]
  • Ecology of the Bald Eagle and Osprey in Yellowstone National Park, Jon
    Ecology of the bald eagle and osprey in Yellowstone National Park, Jon Eugene Swenson by Jon Eugene Swenson A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in Fish and Wildlife Management Montana State University © Copyright by Jon Eugene Swenson (1975) Abstract: The ecology of the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and osprey (Pandion haliaetus) in Yellowstone National Park was studied during the summers of 1972, 1973 and 1974. From historical records, it appeared as though the bald eagle population had remained stable while the osprey population had declined in numbers and distribution. Bald eagles, apparently those which nest in the park, winter along • major rivers, primarily on ungulate wintering areas. Eagle and osprey nest sites were described and compared. Bald eagle territories seemed to be limited by open water at the time of nest initiation. Both species nested later in the park than elsewhere at the same latitude. Ospreys nested later on the lakes (after ice-out) than streams. Bald eagle nest success, 23.3 percent, and productivity per occupied nest, 0.23 percent, were significantly less than in 1960-61. Osprey reproduction has also declined, but nests on Yellowstone Lake had significantly lower nest success and productivity per occupied nest, 28.3 percent and 0.45, respectively, than stream nests, 63.4 percent and 0.95, respectively. This difference appeared to be related to human presence near nests. The corresponding parameters for the entire osprey population were 41.1 percent and 0.64, respectively. In 1972 and 1973, success of osprey nests on Yellowstone Lake was significantly higher for those over 1 km from a backcountry campsite.
    [Show full text]
  • African Fish Eagle Visarend Haliaeetus Vocifer
    Accipitridae: vultures, kites, hawks, eagles, buzzards and harriers 205 African Fish Eagle Visarend Haliaeetus vocifer An Afrotropical species, the African Fish Eagle is fairly It is usually recorded singly or in pairs, but occasionally widespread in the higher-rainfall east and extreme south in flocks of up to 75 birds, e.g. in the Okavango Delta and southwest of southern Africa. Concentrations of high (Pryce 1990). It can occur at high densities under suitable reporting rates were associated with the eastern and south- conditions. The highest recorded density in the atlas region ern coastal regions (estuaries), major rivers, such as those is along the Boro River in the Okavango Delta where in the Transvaal lowveld and the Limpopo and Zambezi breeding pairs are about 400–500 m apart (Brown 1980). rivers, and on the main floodplain systems, such as the In a wider survey of 761 km of the Okavango, Linyanti, Okavango, Linyanti and Chobe rivers. In the dry west, it Chobe and Boteti rivers in northern Botswana, an average extends along the entire length of the Orange and Vaal density of 1 bird/1.9 km of river frontage was measured rivers, and into the central regions of Namibia, where it is (M. Herremans unpubl. data). At Lake Kariba, densities of presumably associated with large dams, such as Hardap 1 bird/3–6 km have been recorded (Irwin 1981; Eriksson Dam (2417BD). The association with high rainfall and & Skarpe 1989), while occupied nests were 1.9–3 km apart wetlands is due to its diet of fish and waterbirds.
    [Show full text]
  • Pel's Fishing
    PEL’S FISHING OWL | Scotopelia peli RE Simmons | Reviewed by: JM Mendelsohn; M Paxton northern South Africa and northern and south-east © Alick Rennie Zimbabwe (Mendelsohn 1997e). It is rare in Namibia, with birds only found along the Okavango, Kwando and Conservation Status: Critically Endangered Zambezi rivers (Mendelsohn 1997e), covering an area of Southern African Range: North-eastern Namibia, occupancy of 3,600 km2 (Jarvis et al. 2001). Populations northern Botswana, are estimated at less than 500 pairs for southern Africa northern South Africa, (Mendelsohn 1997e). High densities of 3.8 pairs per 10 northern and south-east km in the Okavango (Liversedge 1980) and 4.4 pairs Zimbabwe per 10 km in the northern Kruger Park (Tarboton et al. 1987), suggest that the sections of the Okavango and 2 Area of Occupancy: 3,600 km Zambezi Rivers flowing through Namibia are unlikely to support more than 45 pairs (approximately 120 mature Population Estimate: Fewer than 120 mature birds individuals) in Namibia. This is about 9% of the southern African population. On the Okavango River, birds may be Population Trend: Stable to decreasing most likely to occur where overhanging trees are found at Andara and Max Makushe (M Paxton pers. obs.). Because Habitat: Large rivers, quiet fish populations and the number of suitable trees in backwaters occupied habitats in Botswana and South Africa are likely to be higher than in Namibia (JM Mendelsohn pers. obs.), Threats: Degradation of riparian woodland, hydro-electric populations in Namibia may be lower than estimated, schemes, wood-cutting even in prime habitat. ECOLOGY DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE The Pel’s Fishing Owl chooses large overhanging trees This much sought-after owl is the largest of Africa’s three within 50 m of the river bank in which to roost and from Fishing Owls (Kemp & Kemp 1998).
    [Show full text]
  • 1 General Introduction
    A Multi-Scale Approach to Defining Historical and Contemporary Factors Responsible for the Current Distribution of the White-bellied Sea-Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster (Gmelin, 1788) in Australia Author Shephard, Jill Published 2004 Thesis Type Thesis (PhD Doctorate) School Australian School of Environmental Studies DOI https://doi.org/10.25904/1912/3192 Copyright Statement The author owns the copyright in this thesis, unless stated otherwise. Downloaded from http://hdl.handle.net/10072/367440 Griffith Research Online https://research-repository.griffith.edu.au NOTE Appendices 2 and 3 of this thesis consist of reproductions of previously-published journal articles, and have been removed from the electronic version of the thesis. Citations for these articles can be found on page vii. A MULTI-SCALE APPROACH TO DEFINING HISTORICAL AND CONTEMPORARY FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CURRENT DISTRIBUTION OF THE WHITE-BELLIED SEA-EAGLE HALIAEETUS LEUCOGASTER (GMELIN, 1788) IN AUSTRALIA © P.D.Shephard 1998 Jill Shephard B.Ed., B.Sc.(Hons) Australian School of Environmental Studies Faculty of Environmental Sciences Griffith University Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy September 2003 SYNOPSIS The White-bellied Sea-Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster is widespread in Australia, but has been the subject of conservation concern due to suggested localised declines and extinctions. Regionalised monitoring programmes have addressed some aspects of local concern, however a broader approach is needed to gain an understanding of large-scale processes affecting long-term persistence at scales equivalent to the species Australian range. Ultimately, the ability to predict change in population size over time accurately depends on the scale of analysis.
    [Show full text]
  • Monitoring Fish Eagles Along the Breede River
    How green is the valley? MONITORING FISH EAGLES ALONG THE BREEDE RIVER The African Fish Eagle is perhaps the conti- nent’s most iconic bird species – to most people, its bold presence and haunting cry symbolise ‘wild Africa’. But inevitably there is interaction between man and these large raptors as each seeks out ‘territory’. Researchers Adam Welz and Andrew Jenkins are studying the possible effects of agricultural pesticides on the fish eagle along one of the major rivers in the south-western Cape to assess whether intensive farming practices are impacting on this species and, if so, to what degree. TEXT & PHOTOGRAPHS BY ADAM WELZ & ANDREW JENKINS or centuries much of the south-western part of South Africa’s Western Cape Province has been intensively farmed. The region’s wines are internationally renowned F and its deciduous fruit crops, exported worldwide, earn South Africa millions in foreign exchange annually. One of the prime agricultural areas, supporting thousands of hectares of vineyards and orchards, is the Breede River Valley, which lies about a hundred kilometres inland from Cape Town. Most people define the Breede River Valley as the area along the river between Michell’s Pass (just outside Ceres) and Bonnievale, about 140 kilometres downstream. The Breede itself continues for quite some distance to its mouth at Witsand, near Cape Infanta. The Breede River (‘wide’ river in Afrikaans) was so named because it spreads over a large floodplain during the area’s winter rains. Very little natural vegetation remains within the valley, but this Late on a summer evening, a farm doesn’t stop large populations of various raptor species from thriv- worker sprays pesticide on a vine- ing there.
    [Show full text]
  • Abundance and Distribution of African Fish Eagles Along Major Rivers in Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe
    ISSN: 2276-7762 Impact Factor 2012 (UJRI): 0.7361 ICV 2012: 5.99 Abundance and Distribution of African Fish Eagles along Major Rivers in Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe By Patience Zisadza -Gandiwa Samuel Chiganze Paul Chirombe Clayton Mashapa Never Muboko Edson Gandiwa Greener Journal of Biological Sciences ISSN: 2276-7762 Vol. 3 (9), pp. 336-341, November 2013. Research Article Abundance and Distribution of African Fish Eagles along Major Rivers in Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe Patience Zisadza-Gandiwa 1,2 , Samuel Chiganze 3, Paul Chirombe 3, Clayton Mashapa 4, Never Muboko 5 and Edson Gandiwa 2,5 * 1Transfrontier Conservation Areas Office, Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, P.O. Box CY 140, Causeway, Harare, Zimbabwe. 2Scientific Services, Gonarezhou National Park, Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Private Bag 7003, Chiredzi, Zimbabwe. 3Mushandike College of Wildlife Management, Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Private Bag 9036, Masvingo, Zimbabwe. 4Tropical Resource Ecology Programme, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, P. O. Box MP 167, Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe. 5Department of Wildlife and Safari Management, Chinhoyi University of Technology, Private Bag 7724, Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe. *Corresponding Author’s Email: [email protected]; Tel: +263 773 490202 ABSTRACT African fish eagles (Haliaeetus vocifer ) are important birds of prey and indicator of ecosystem integrity in aquatic environments. We assessed the population abundance and spatial distribution of African fish eagles along three major rivers in Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe. Data were collected using walked transect surveys along Mwenezi, Runde and Save rivers in Gonarezhou between March and April 2011. A total of 54 African fish eagles were recorded with an average density of 0.62 individuals per km.
    [Show full text]
  • Kleptoparasitism of Shoebills Balaeniceps Rex by African Fish Eagles Haliaeetus Vocifer in Western Tanzania
    Tanzania Journal of Science 45(2): 131-143, 2019 ISSN 0856-1761, e-ISSN 2507-7961 © College of Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Dar es Salaam, 2019 Kleptoparasitism of Shoebills Balaeniceps rex by African Fish Eagles Haliaeetus vocifer in Western Tanzania Jasson RM John1* and Woo S Lee2 1Department of Zoology and Wildlife Conservation, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Dar es Salaam, P. O. Box 35064, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. 2Department of Forest Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea. *Corresponding author E-mail: [email protected] Abstract Kleptoparasitism is a specialised form of foraging interference occurring throughout the animal kingdom and especially is well documented among birds including African fish eagle Haliaeetus vocifer. However, only one record is reported between fish eagle and shoebill Balaeniceps rex despite their habitat overlap and it remains undescribed. This paper documents kleptoparasitism of shoebills by fish eagles in Malagarasi wetlands, western Tanzania. Kleptoparasitism was highly seasonal occurring in the dry season, especially at low floods. Both adults and non-adult eagles stole prey from shoebills, with non-adults initiating attacks at shorter distances than adults perhaps because of the lack of experience. The shoebill preys were comparatively larger than those from fish eagle own fishing and required long preparation time which provided the opportunities to kleptoparasites. Shoebill’s long prey handling time (6.90 ± 4.48 min) may have provided benefits to fish eagles as all kleptoparasitism attempts (n = 138) were successful. Moreover, it seemed likely that an attacking fish eagle posed significant danger to the shoebill and given the fact that shoebill lacks structures such as pointed bill to defend from kleptoparasitic attack it opted not to retaliate.
    [Show full text]